FREMONT, Ohio — The Sandusky County Common Pleas Court staff is following the recommendations of a Columbus human resources consulting firm after two employees filed discriminatory harassment complaints against Judge Jon Ickes and his bailiff, Candice Talbott.
11 Investigates has learned that both employees accused Ickes of often using sexualized language or sexual innuendo in the workplace, dating back to 2022.
The complaints filed with the county allege that Ickes:
- Would show women in the office pictures of women in bikinis and skirts.
- Commented that he needed a 20-year-old girlfriend and that his wife wouldn’t mind.
- Commented that he wanted to lick a woman’s earrings because they looked like lollipops.
- Commented that he was disappointed to only be able to briefly watch a female employee walk by in her dress.
- Commented on how a young attorney was sitting in a sexual manner.
- Exposed his calf on multiple occasions and massaged them with lotion, while moaning and looking at a female employee.
- Repeatedly referred to a human resources employee in a sexually derogative manner.
- Told a pregnant employee that a ***** fairy and butt fairy would be visiting her.
Ickes did return a call to 11 Investigates and said a Columbus consulting firm, Clemans Nelson, conducted an investigation and provided recommendations to be followed by the court in the future. Those recommendations were not provided to 11 Investigates by Thursday evening.
Ickes said one of the complainants previously worked for him but has been moved to another area of the courthouse.
Talbott was accused of harassment for allegedly continuing to angrily discuss the incident with the pregnant employee, asked if she was just hormonal and questioned if she needed to file a complaint. She also told the employee that the judge’s wife called to discuss with the bailiff how sensitive the employee was being. Talbott was placed on leave in early May, but Ickes confirmed that she continues to serve as his bailiff. Attempts to reach Talbott were not successful.
Ickes, a former defense attorney, was appointed to the bench in the middle of 2020 to replace retiring Judge John Dewey. He was then elected in 2020 and will not face election until 2026. As an elected judge, he cannot be fired or suspended by the county. He can be reported to the Ohio Ethics Commission, though 11 Investigates has not been able to find a state complaint.